burger fun / Four Nines / Solver

Make 38 with four 9s

The classic four nines puzzle: build an expression from exactly four 9s that equals 38. 38 cannot be made with + - × ÷, concatenation, or decimals (the solver checked every expression) — solutions need square roots, factorials, or exponents.

Solutions using only + - × ÷

No expression made of four plain 9s and + - × ÷ reaches 38 — the solver checked every possible expression.

Solutions with concatenation and decimals

Concatenation and decimals do not help for 38 either — every combination was checked.

Solutions with square roots, factorials, exponents

  • sqrt(9)! × (sqrt(9)! + sqrt(9) / 9) = 38
  • sqrt(9)! × (sqrt(9) + sqrt(9) / .9) = 38
  • sqrt(9) × (sqrt(9)! + sqrt(9)! / .9) = 38
  • sqrt(9)! × sqrt(9)! + sqrt(9)! / sqrt(9) = 38
  • (sqrt(9)!! / sqrt(9)! - sqrt(9)!) / sqrt(9) = 38

5 distinct solutions found in total, after removing trivial rearrangements.

Make 37 with four 9s · Make 39 with four 9s

The Number Lab

Same idea, different constraints: four 9s, four 4s, or any four digits you like.

Play the daily Four Nines puzzle, pick another number in the solver, or find more free math games.